Anurag Basu: I started out as a background dancer!

Barfi!' director Anurag Basu has revealed that he started his career in showbiz as a backup dancer.

The director talks about his early days in the film industry

Barfi!’ director Anurag Basu has revealed that he started his career in showbiz as a backup dancer.

The filmmaker, who aimed to become an engineer initially but left college in the middle to pursue his dream in films, said he opted for the background dancer because the profession paid more than being a junior artist.

“Today it is very easy to get into the industry with these talent shows; but during our time it was very difficult.

I always wanted to be a director but in order to become a director, one needed to be on the sets of a film to understand the nitty-gritty of movie making.

“So I started out as a background dancer as it paid more than being a junior artist,” Basu, who is one of the judges of India’s Best Cinestars Ki Khoj, said on the Zee TV show.

The episode, which will go on air today, will also see the filmmaker shaking a leg with Akshay Nalawade, one of the top 10 contestants, on Tera Hero Idhar Hai.